BNC heads up Senior Center site search

Another lengthy discussion on the proposed Senior Center project took place Sept. 2 between the selectmen, members of the Council on Aging, COA Director Karen Phillips, members of the Building Needs Committee, and Finance and Capital committee members.

The final verdict was that the BNC would take over the search for an appropriate site for a new center and make a recommendation about whether to renovate an existing building or build new. The committee will meet with the COA, the Finance and Capital committees within the next 30 days and then report their findings and suggestions to the selectmen.

The feasibility study for a new Senior Center was started in 2003 by the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission, and currently $24,000 has been spent on that and some additional architectural studies.

The list of plausible sites has grown over the past few years, and includes Twin Oaks restaurant, the Sterling Inn, land behind the tennis courts near the Butterick Building, and several locations that were deemed no longer available.

Phillips said she has gathered information as to how many seniors would use the new center once it is built, but noted getting a solid number is nearly impossible. She cited an example of the town of Hopkinton, which built a senior center there only to have its active membership quadruple once it opened. If the COA could get 800 seniors in town to use the new center "that to me would be a wonderful thing," said Phillips.

One thing is for sure: the population of seniors in town (age 60 and above) is growing, and the Town Clerk's office reports that by the end of this year more than 20 percent of Sterling's 8,060 residents will be considered "senior," and eligible to use the new center for their lunch program, yoga and line dancing, art classes, bridge, as well as a variety of COA-sponsored programs.

According to Phillips, the Executive Office of Elder Affairs recommends 5-6 gross square feet per elder. This would call for a building of at least 8,100 square feet for the town's senior population.

Finance Committee Chairman Larry Pape suggested Phillips contact more towns who are going through similar senior-growth situations and see what they have done regarding the size of their senior centers.